By Kellen Olshefski
SLN Staff
The City of Elkhorn is planning to draft an operational agreement that would clear up the city’s relationship with Matheson Memorial Library.
The topic was brought to the City of Elkhorn Finance and Judicial Committee Monday night after questions were raised during recent meetings as to what exactly the city is responsible for when it comes to projects at the library.
City Administrator Sam Tapson said Monday night the discussion was intended to educate aldermen and clear up misunderstandings about the city’s relationship with the library.
Tapson said Monday night what is clear is that regardless of who owns the building or the property it sits on, under state statutes, the library has total authority and control.
“Whether we own, they own it, or whoever owns it, it’s a public asset, a community asset and we should support it,” he said. “It’s how we support it and at what level.”
Tapson said he feels, and has felt for some time, that there should be an operating agreement in place between the two entities, a formal arrangement he said would be beneficial for both. He said the agreement would spell out cost sharing between the city and the library.
“The duties and responsibilities, there’s really no debate there,” Tapson said.
Tapson said what the city needs to discuss is whether or not it takes on costs from the community center more aggressively and how costs associated with the building are split.
“I think we would serve future councils well if we would reduce this to writing,” he said.
Alderman Hoss Rehberg said where he struggles with the concept is the inclusion of the community center and the library under one roof and understanding who is responsible for what portions of the building.
Library Director Lisa Selje explained Monday night that the city and library split the costs of things like utilities and building maintenance, noting heating and ventilation services as an example.
Tapson said that in recent years, the library has taken on 70 percent of these types of costs, with the city taking on about 30 percent.
Selje also noted renting of the Community Center is handled by the City of Elkhorn Parks and Recreation Department and the city is required to call and make a reservation just like any other community group.
City Attorney Ward Phillips said Monday night as it’s a city-owned building, the city is in charge of maintenance and repairs, though the library board is the governing body that makes the decisions on when these types of projects will be done.
Tapson noted while the library does handle its own janitorial services, as it is a city-owned building, the city’s department of public works handles maintenance.
Tapson said while the board does have control over these types of decisions, it’s important to note that no matter what, the library is still restricted by the city’s tax levy.
“Understand that the levy is the levy and that’s all there is,” he said.
Tapson said the library submits a budget to the city requesting funds under the tax levy and the library’s spending is limited to what the city provides financially to the library in its annual budget.
Phillips said with the building being a mixed-use space, it makes sense to have an operating agreement to determine how costs would be split.
Tapson said once they understand what committee members would like to accomplish, staff can begin to pull together the pieces of an agreement.
